Lost Coverage: The 2017 Tottenham Car And Truck Show

Anyone who’s seen Jurassic Park is likely familiar with the quote “Life finds a way”. In the movie Jeff Goldblum’s character said it in reference to dinosaurs finding a way to, well, basically, do whatever they want despite our best efforts.

In real world terms, life (aka adult responsibilities) finds a way to basically get in the way of things. An odd concept, considering these things are what make up our lives… but you know what I mean.

I’ve talked about life, and it’s impact on the site here before, and will likely again, and it is life that swallowed up the coverage of this event, the Tottenham Classic Car and Truck show.

2017 was actually my, or rather our (I brought the whole family), second year attending the show, and 2018 will probably be my third year.

Why? Because it’s a really a great event. Held at the Tottenham campgrounds it’s a great show to either come for the day, or stay for the weekend like we did.

The main reason the SIE family returned to the show was because of the kids vehicle class. My son had an absolute blast last year and before every event I took him to this year he asked if it was the one with the “tiny” car show.

Though his own “Power Wheels” is bone stock (that life chestnut strikes again) he’s more proud of it than anything so it’s nice to bring it with us for a change.

As far as full-scale cars go, this show has everything you’d expect from a classic car event. Muscle, customs, and hot rods I’m sure there was even a motorcycle or two I might have missed.

Though It’s billed as a classic car event I’m pretty sure the organizers would welcome a few more trucks and imports next year. Just sayin’.

One of the coolest cars at the event was this Mini. The Batman car seat is really just the icing on the cake with this one.

As it’s plain to see the proportions of this particular mini are, vastly different from a standard Mini.

I’m not sure exactly how much wider it is than stock, but, its siginifcant none the less. The reason for the added girth is as interesting as the wrap on the car wears.

Stuffed horizontally in the rear of the car is a 350 small block. If I remember from posting it months ago, it’s mated to an Oldsmobile Tornado transmission and the whole set up is likely why the Mini is so darn wide.

The other reasons can likely be attributed to handling and traction benefits.

If you prefer your rubber inside stock bodies (and axles incredibly narrow) this Malibu was impossible to ignore thundering through the entrance.

It’s no real secret that I am a Pro Street fan so I had to get a closer look at it.

Apparently the car had a blown motor leading up to the show and this was one of the first times it had been brought back out after a rebuild.

Had I not been told, I wouldn’t have known because the car certainly look like it recently had a motor swapped into it.

Any fans of 70s Street Machines reading this? If so then you probably like this 1907 Charger as much as I do. As much as stretched tires and camber can be linked to this generation, fat rubber, rake and Cragars can be linked to that of the 70s.

Arguments as to which look is better are best left to someone else however.

Dubbed, and branded, the Black Bitch, it looks like this car’s no joke. I’ve never seen it before, but if I see it again I might need to chat with the owner about exactly how much power the chicken eating 500 stroker is putting to the floor.

Ontario has more ‘Kustom’ cars than I’d ever imagined. We might not have near the same amount as California but, we certainly have our fair share.

This Ford Meteor might look subtle at first glance but there’s quite a bit going on. Take the lack of door handles, frenched headlights and lake side pipes. All calling cards of a traditional kustom car.

Keen eyes have probably also noticed that there are also louvers punched into the hood.

Under the louvers is a McCulloch supercharged power plant. I’ve mentioned Mculloch’s previously, and shown this engine bay before, as it’s the only car I’ve ever seen with one.

It is a fairly unique looking unit and one of few according to the owner.

Not sure how much power they make, but it makes the engine bay of this Ford just as noteworthy as the exterior.

Speaking of noteworthy exteriors how about this 1940 Mercury Custom that’s been given the face of a 1950s Cadillac. This car has pretty well every paint trick in the book applied to it.

Windows, flake, lace, flames. This car has all of it, and a lot of it. The work was done by the owner Trevor Downing, right down to borrowing the lace drapes from his Grandmother.

My son got a kick out of this one dubbing the ‘rainbow’ car his favorite of the show. It’s a 454 powered car that’s static in the front with bags in the rear.

The only reason it’s got bags in the rear is because the owner’s son uses a power wheel chair and apparently riding static with the extra weight cause the car to get beached a bit more often than one would like.

As the day went on more and more cars pulled into the event, the variety of which seemed to constantly grow.

Stock firetrucks don’t often (well ever really) make the site but this former Tottenham pumper was too cool not to take a photo of two of.

The vintage life saving tools were pretty interesting to look at. I think those might be early jaws of life?

Looking back at these photos now, about a month before the coldest part of winter, is a bit of a tease, but what’s better than a little something to look forward to for next summer eh?